Britain braced for more storms

BRITAIN should brace itself for an Atlantic storm due to hit later tonight bringing heavy rain and gales gusting up to 70mph, forecasters warned.

The bad weather was expected to sweep across the UK, increasing the risk of flooding in already vulnerable areas and possibly causing structural damage.

Forecaster Jeremy Plester from PA WeatherCentre said: "The storm is just on the south west tip of Ireland but it will be moving across to north Wales and arriving at Hull first thing tomorrow morning.

"It will bring very high rain this evening for most of England and Wales and gales gusting up to 70mph along the English Channel coast.

"We could see tiles being blown off and the odd tree coming down and extensive damage to caravan parks."

An Environment Agency spokesman said agricultural fields and low lying farmland in certain areas were most at risk from flooding.

There were 31 flood warnings in place tonight but more were expected to be issued. Seven warnings covered Wales, Midlands (19), North East (3) and one each for the north west and south West of Britain.

The spokesman added: "With flood warnings already in force across the Midlands and more heavy rain expected tonight, the Environment Agency is urging people to stay alert to the risk of increased flooding, to keep up to date with the latest flood information and to take the necessary action to protect themselves, their property and their livestock if warnings are issued."